Mazzocco replaces Sonmor, joins Shaver calling Gopher hockey games

Radio broadcasts of University of Minnesota men's hockey games, moving this season to a new spot on the AM dial, will feature two familiar voices and the departure of another one.

Frank Mazzocco and Wally Shaver will call every game this season on the flagship KSTP 1500, commonly known as ESPN1500, the school announced Friday.

Mazzocco replaces Glen Sonmor, a longtime figure in Minnesota hockey best known by listeners for his folksy storytelling and steady critiquing of officiating calls that went against his beloved Gophers. Sonmor retired midway through last season.

Former Gopher hockey All-America Pat Micheletti will join the broadcast team for selected games as an ice-level commentator.

"Frank and Pat will both bring recognizable and knowledgeable voices to Gopher hockey fans on the radio," U athletics director Joel Maturi said in announcing the selections.

Mazzocco and Shaver also called Gopher hockey games together in the 1980s on television.

Shaver has been calling U hockey games on the radio since the 2001-02 season on WCCO Radio (AM 830).

Mazzocco, who has more than 30 years of hockey broadcasting experience, was previously the play-by-play voice of Gopher hockey on television for more than 20 years. Mazzocco lost his TV job last season to Anthony LaPanta.

Mazzocco had been doing play-by-play of hockey in Minnesota since 1982, when he joined the North Stars broadcast team. He began working Gophers games on television in 1986.

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